Chartplotter, wheel drive integration

[MrReedatsea]

I have a question for the electronics specialists. I have a Raymarine C140 chartplotter and from my research found it apparently coordinates nicely with the EV-100 wheel drive. My question is this: Do I need to also purchase the ACU-100 auto pilot control head to interface or can it be controlled from the chartplotter alone?

I have an O'Day 322 with a net weight approximately 10,300 pounds.

Thank you for your input/advice/suggestions.

[MikeFergie]

As far as I am aware you need to be able to network your chart plotter to the control box (pc) of the autopilot and then you can use your chart plotter to activate and follow the charted course etc.

I am not sure if your specific chart plotter chats to your chosen autopilot control box (pc). This you will need to check with raymarine technical.

Rgards
MikeF


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[CS Cruiser]

Yes you will need the ACU-100

[Ziggy]

The chartplotter provides the commands and GPS data to the autopileot. The ACU-100 takes the commands and converts them into the current for the wheelpilot servo motor. So, yes, you do need the ACU-100 and also the EV-1 heading sensor. The chartplotter could probably take place of the p70 controller, but you probably won't save any money by buying the individual components compared to the whole EV-100 kit that includes the WheelPilot, ACU-100, EV-1, p70, and a cabling kit.

[RaymondR]

My wheel pilot control head has an NMEA0183 connection on the back which allows it to listen to any device which has an NMEA0183 output and will send the right sentences. I think the nomenclature used is "talkers" and "listeners". If your wheel pilot already has a control head with an NMEA input it is the "listener" and will connect to any GPS or chart plotter which has an NMEA output which will then become the "talker". The specifications for your devices should tell you which sentences the various devices either "talk" or "listen" for and respond to.


If either of the devices has only a proprietary data transmission or receiver system or different NMEA protocols then you will need to change one of them to match the other.